But with the excitement of Christmas building (and the deadline for entries closed), I thought I'd share some of my favorite holiday sites that weren't sent in. Most of these are fun pages meant for kids of every age. (And just so you know, a full column of religious sites and offerings will run on Christmas Day.)

•  www.bonus.com. There are games galore at this well-planned play site. You'll need Flash and Shockwave and all the customary bells and whistles to really take advantage of the numerous offerings you'll find here. Games, puzzles and teasers for the holidays (and for all the other days as well) are just a snowball toss away. Save the Christmas presents from the evil sprite, slalom past trees, snowboard over jumps or help Santa deliver his gifts. It's a great way to pass the time until the big day arrives.

•  www.christmasfanatic.com. I love the declaration on the front page of the Christmas Fanatic site telling visitors they'll find Christmas "all year round." Some of the most creative musical files are included here with a wonderfully jazzy and well engineered stereo rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas." There are hours and hours (if not days and days) of activities and heart-warming stories included along with posters, recipes and games. There's also a collection of links for some special charities that need our help during the holidays and throughout the year.

•  www.noradsanta.org. Follow Santa as he streaks across the skies at this tracking station site from NORAD. If you want to see the reindeer on the hoof -- you can't wait 'til they're on your roof. Update now right on the site.

•  www.rainbow-magic.com/holidays/christmas. Everything here is fun, from the opening screen that makes you find the magical entrance to the sleigh ride that offers you "tickets" to the various areas on the site and the photo-and-quote Advent calendar that offers religious as well as seasonal surprises. Look a little further and you'll find a page of Christmas "pets" to adopt for your own Web pages. (I understand Frosty the snowman and Krystal the snowflake, but I'm not sure about the sugar cookies named Mary Kate and Ashley.)

•  http://dtkrank.com/snowy.html. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! What a cheery collection of snowmen, women, children and pets. Here you'll find dozens and dozens of brightly outfitted snow folks sure to warm your heart.

•  www.meddybemps.com/clockworks/toyshop.html. A visit to Cuckoo's Clockworks at Chateau Meddybemps is sure to bring a smile to even holiday-weary Web wanderers. Click on the clock to see it work, then step inside to meet Weebit Cuckoo, who'll invite you to help him build some cars and trucks. Or, if you'd rather, check out his shelves for other toys to play with. Everything here is delightful.

•  www.geocities.com/Heartland/7134/Christmas/xmas.htm. This site with the long address is also long on fun. There are enough crafts, games, rhymes, riddles, projects, songs and stories to keep your kids as well as the creatures from stirring until the big day arrives. I'm really sorry I missed this Advent calendar in the column earlier this month. But even though you're starting a bit late, there is still time to share some of the activities with your children, your brothers and sisters or your friends.

•  www.candlelightstories.com/page1.htm. Join Sally, a sparrow and the Moon Queen on a Christmas Eve adventure. The delightful story and colorful illustrations make this another great one for the whole family. If you like this tale, investigate the site further to find other Explore a Story offerings.

Jan Perry is a Kentucky-based freelance writer. She welcomes your e-mails at SiteSeer2K@aol.com.